After leaving the flower field in the Eternal Resting Forest; Bakunawa and I both decided to use the new ability I learned in practice.
Monkey dance, an A-Tier wind skill; an ancient movement skill that lets the user leap and sprint briskly through the branches of the trees or rocks or on the ground. It's a mix of both augmenting and manifesting magic formation. The wind attribute is augmenting my whole body to move quickly, and I'm also manifesting my wind mana affinity, surrounding myself with the wind attribute to sense the air and atmosphere around me.
I didn't use it on the way to the Pariah Sanctuary, because Bakunawa forbade me from using this skill, and she required that I master the skill to silver rank first.
There are six ranks of skill mastery. From Bronze as the starting point; to silver, the standard rank; to Gold, the middle rank; to Epic, which is considered the highest rank out of all skill mastery that a normal human could master. Then there is also the Legend and Mythic rank, which is said to be beyond what a normal human could master.
In each rank mastery, there are also 3 learning stages or levels; first, is the white stage which is the beginning level, next is the grey stage or the middle level, and last is the black stage.
Bakunawa said that only those who manage to remove the limiter to their physical body can reach those two highest forms of skill mastery.
And at the present moment, my mastery rank for the skill Monkey Dance is currently at the black stage of silver rank. Just a few more push, and I'll be able to master Monkey Dance to gold rank.
Bakunawa said that I could also use this in combat, especially if the environment is a jungle-like forest like what the Mapulder land has. The only downside of this skill is if the environment is not to my advantage, but besides that, the skill itself matches me perfectly.
I don't need to overthink my next move; I just need to follow the rhythm of the next dance according to the wind in the forest.
It's no wonder why this skill was then called Monkey Dance; it made me appear like I'm dancing as I moved around the trees, springing up and down through those branches.
As the sun descended down on the horizon; it painted the sky a colour of orange and red, and I sprinted, hopping through the forest with a heavy air in my lungs.
[Let's call it a day?] Bakunawa asked, glancing at me as we both stopped from running.
I nodded at her since I'm already feeling kind of exhausted. "I think half of my mana has been used from that whole day's marathon run," I commented as I sat down under the shade of the tree, taking a deep breath as I calmed my heart.
Bakunawa sat next to me as she laughed. [You still have a long way to go to reach my level, mortal.]
I shook my head at Bakunawa. "Even if I live my whole life, I won't be able to reach your level, you know…"
[Right…anyway, let's eat.] Bakunawa transmitted, opening her backpack; it contained the food that Anggitay and the others stored for our journey back to Nilad City in the Maharlika Island.
As Bakunawa opened the bag, both of us were shocked to see the empty bag and only the sleeping figure of Ynez could be seen inside.
"Ynez?" I called with my eyes wide open.
The blue bunny woman woke up, rubbing her eyes as she yawned. "Hey hooman, are we there yet?"
Bakunawa and I glanced at each other; both of us seemed surprised to see Ynez inside the bag. My brows furrowed in anxiousness as I turned my head to Ynez again. "What are you doing there?"
Ynez blink her eyes, looking around the surroundings. "It doesn't seem that we're there yet, so I'm sleeping again, please don't disturb me until we reach the Majapahit Empire," Ynez said, closing her eyes as she went back to sleep.
"Huh? What are you going to do there? You know that it's dangerous for you if other humans see your bunny ears, right?" I stated.
"I'm not worried, Bakunawa is there to protect me if something happens," Ynez replied, keeping her eyes closed.
I sighed as I glanced at Bakunawa.
Bakunawa shook her head with a wry smile. [Don't worry, I'll handle it. Ynez probably wants to visit her relatives that are residing near the Majapahit Empire.]
"Is that where her family is located?" I asked.
[Yes, that's where the blue rabbit clan lives.]
"Oh," I replied, nodding understandably. "Then why is Ynez separated from them?"
Bakunawa gestured to her lips with her index finger. [Don't talk so loud.]
I nodded as I understood that Bakunawa probably doesn't want Ynez to wake up and find that we're talking about her.
"Sorry," I mumbled sheepishly.
[Anyway, Ynez is a halfling born from a blue rabbit man and a female human. It's a little complicated, but from what I heard from Anggitay; Ynez voluntarily left the blue rabbit clan to search for her human mother. When Ynez left her home, Ynez almost got tamed by humans. Fortunately, Anggitay found Ynez and brought this blue bunny girl to the Pariah Sanctuary; Anggitay baptised her there, so Ynez wouldn't be tamed as the Goddess Idianale protects her from it like a charm.]
"Did she find her mother?" I asked in a whisper.
Bakunawa shook her head with a sad smile, looking at Ynez. [Anggitay said that Ynez's mother died from giving birth to Ynez.]
"I see," I mumbled, looking at Ynez, feeling sad for her.
Ynez probably also misses her family; that's why she risked leaving the Pariah Sanctuary with us.
"I'll go gather edible plants for us to eat and refill some water, I'll be back shortly," I mumbled as I stood up, taking two leather water flasks with me.
[Gather some twigs as well, so we could make it a comfortable night for Ynez.] Bakunawa transmitted.
"Got it," I replied as I turned and left.
Currently, we're now in the Willow Forest, and these woods are more watery and crowded with shrubs since after the Willow Forest is the Columbu Shore.
As I walked to the woods, I found some blueberry bushes, so I went and took a lot while leaving some for anyone who needs it. Afterwards, I went down the stream, refilling the two empty water flasks with water. On the way back, I also gathered some raspberries, spinach, and other edible plants for the journey on the sea. As I kept myself busy, I heard a rustling behind me, and immediately, I felt a shudder behind my back.
Without thinking, I moved my body, using Monkey Dance, dodging to the side.
When I turned around, I saw a familiar face of a woman, wearing the same tattered clothes she wore the first time I saw her in these woods.
"You again? You don't learn, do you?" I mumbled.
The woman clicked her tongue, gritting her teeth as she picked up her axe from the ground. With one more glare, she quickly turned around, running.
I shook my head as I decided to go back to Bakunawa and Ynez; I need to warn them about those mountain bandits. However, as I hopped and set my foot down on the ground, a net-like vine trap suddenly pulled me up, hanging on the branch of the tree.
"Geez," I muttered, irritated with these bandits as I transformed my right hand to a scissor cutting off the net-like vines.
"Aaaaaaahh!!"
My eyes widened as I heard a loud scream from where Bakunawa and Ynez were. Hurriedly, I cut off the vines. I sprinted as I used the skill Monkey Dance. When I arrived there, it was already too late.
A thick smoke surrounded the area; it smelled good, but I think it made people feel sleepy. Just from whiffing it from a distance; it already made me feel drowsy. I pinched my nose with my fingers as I approached inside to check the two.
My brows creased together, seeing Bakunawa lying on the ground, and Ynez can't be found anywhere in sight. I narrowed my eyes as I muttered, "...ventilate."
The smoke instantly scattered apart, disappearing as the air circulated in the area. As soon as the air cleared up, I woke Bakunawa from her slumber.
"Bakunawa, wake up!"
Bakunawa groaned as she squinted her eyes open, and soon, she sat up, looking around. [Where's Ynez? What happened?] Bakunawa asked, clueless but also panicking.
My brow wrinkled, gazing at Bakunawa. "I should be the one asking you that," I said.
Bakunawa touched her forehead, closing her eyes in weaved eyebrows. [I don't know…someone suddenly threw a bomb of smoke, and before I knew it, I fell asleep.]
I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. I'll definitely give those bandits a hard beating this time. "It's probably those mountain bandits again," I said.
Bakunawa gritted her teeth. [This is my fault. It's because I let my guard down…]
"It's too early to blame yourself," I interrupted in a scolding voice. "We should go and look for Ynez, I think we could still catch up with them if we hurry," I said.
[You're right.] Bakunawa nodded as she calmed down.
"Let's go," I said, picking up my backpack as I stored the food inside. "You look for their trails, I'll follow your lead."
Bakunawa nodded as she started running, while I followed behind, thinking how to pay these bandits back for this good deed.
'They better not do anything to Ynez, or else…' My lips twisted into a sweet smile.
After some time.
For nearly four hours, Bakunawa and I dash through the Northern part of the Willow Forest. The trails of those bandits led us at the foot of the Forbidden Mountains in the north, and by the time we arrived at the bottom of the first hill; the sun had already set and the sky was already dark.
[Hold on, mortal.] Bakunawa transmitted to my head; she suddenly stopped as she stood on the spot roaming her eyes around the dark woods.
"What's wrong?" I asked as I also became vigilant of my surroundings.
For some reason, I could feel an extremely powerful aura lingering in the hills; I feel like I'm being watched naked.
[These Forbidden Mountains are the home of the Diwata and Encanto.] Bakunawa stated.
My eyes widened as I gasped, "You mean those Lesser Deities?"
Bakunawa nodded. [Yes, and the problem is…those trails left by the bandits are leading inside this Forbidden place.]
I knitted my brows as I became even more vigilant.
The Diwata and Encanto are lesser deities who were also born from the Acacia Tree, but because they have less divine powers than other deities; they descended down from the Celestial Heavens i the Upper realm, settling down in the Middle realm, which is the Nucleus. And they resided on the trees which resemble the Cosmic Acacia Tree.
It was stated that they are benevolent neutral divine deities; they would bless people or individuals who bring benefits to their territory with crop growth, good health, and fortune. On the other hand, if anyone disrespect them or their territory, they will mercilessly incur illness and misfortune.
So that led to the First Founder of the Maple Kingdom to name the northern mountains as forbidden, banning people from entering this area. Anyone who breaks this law is punishable with death.
And those bandits just entered this forbidden land, but if you think about it, this should only be normal for those bandits. After all, they are already outlaws from the kingdom, and breaking another law does nothing to them.
At that, I became worried. "What should we do? Can we also enter this area?" I asked.
Bakunawa nodded. [Yes, but we need to give offerings, so the Diwata and the Encanto would let us pass.]
"What kind of offering?" I questioned, feeling anxious.
[Fruits, money, treasure, anything…] Bakunawa replied.
"If that's all, then there's no problem since I collected a lot of berries and edible plants earlier, would this suffice?" I said, showing the items in my backpack.
[I suppose, anyway, let's move and just try…] Bakunawa replied, moving forward.
I nodded as I followed.
As Bakunawa and I entered, stepping inside the boundaries of the mountain; a swishing sound resounded followed by a sweet mischievous feminine laughters echoing to my ears. The breeze in the air also became cold instantly, while the foggy mist blocked our views.
I became vigilant as I glanced at Bakunawa, and Bakunawa shook her head. [Stay put. They are checking us if we brought any harm to their territory.] Bakunawa explained.
I swallowed, feeling my heart thump in my chest; I could feel like a bunch of invisible hands were touching me all over my body. I felt so uncomfortable about it.
After a while, my backpack disappeared, and the foggy mist also dissipated. Fortunately, they didn't take my pipe away. After all, the pipe is a gift from Capriana, my friend from the Kapre race.
As soon as the laughing echoes faded, countless lights and smoke came in sight from the peak of the mountain; I think the base of the bandits are located there, so this is probably where they are hiding.
[It's over. We passed their entrance test.] Bakunawa stated.
That made me release a sigh of relief, and my heart rate calmed down.
[Come on, let's make haste…] Bakunawa beckoned, striding up to the hills.
"Yes, let's hurry, Ynez is probably anxious by now," I replied.
Afterwards, Bakunawa and I decided to gather intelligence first. After all, we both can't afford to act rashly inside the Forbidden grounds of the Lesser Deities. If we do, we might incur their wrath and receive punishment.
So we hid inside the bush, observing those Bandits celebrate merrily around the huge bonfire with what seemed to be…
[Dwarves?!] Bakunawa exclaimed as she transmitted in my head.
"So…those are dwarves?" I whispered, staring at those 4 feet and about 5 inches tall men and women; both male and female have burly figures and beards. The only difference is that the dwarven women have a visible curvy chest that dwarven men don't have.
And those dwarves are currently having a joyous chat along with those bandits.
[I didn't know that this is where they were dwelling. Because after the war between all races in the middle realm; the dwarves' race disappeared on the surface of the Nucleus. Many even thought that they had long ago been extinct because of the war.] Bakunawa explained.
"I see…" I replied; I also read about the Dwarves, but like what Bakunawa said, the book stated that the Dwarven race suddenly disappeared; it turns out that they went to live here in the Forbidden Mountains.
"Should we go and approach them?" I asked, glancing at Bakunawa.
[Well, the more we wait; the more Ynez might get anxious, so it's the only thing we can do.] Bakunawa answered.
"Then I'll try talking to them, and just in case, I think you should hide first and wait here while I gauge them out, what do you think?" I said.
Bakunawa nodded in agreement. [Alright, I agree with this plan. Don't worry, I'll be right here, watching your back.]
"I'm not worried," I replied as I stood up, walking out of the bush.